Rugby World Cup... Born-Again England Turn On The Power To Destroy Aussies While Fabulous French Roar Back To Humble Sad All Blacks

MIKE CATT was delighted to be given the chance to delay his retirement from international rugby as England silenced their critics with a shock KO of Australia.

The 36-year-old World Cup winner would have bowed out had his side justified the bookies' lack of faith and lost to the Wallabies.

But England sent the Aussies packing for a third time in the last four World Cups, as Jonny Wilkinson kicked them to victory to move above Gavin Hastings as the World Cup's all-time top points scorer.

It is scarcely believable that a team smashed 36-0 by South Africa in their second pool game now stand just two wins away from retaining their crown.

As Australia lick their wounds after yet another horror show at the hands of England's rampant pack, Catt said: "It was going to be my last international if it didn't go right. Not now, though - if I'm selected.

"We always knew as a group of players we had a big one in us and we can improve massively. We took the game to Australia and I don't think they expected that.

"We seem to understand how we want to play now and we've slowly progressed. We played very simple stuff and we stopped them in defence.

"Everyone wrote us off and there was abuse in the Press again from certain Australian individuals - who it is good to send packing."

The England pack crushed Australia into submission, with props Andrew Sheridan and Phil Vickery destroying their scrum and building a platform for Wilkinson to strike.